Practical and Adorable: Fish Shaped Drawstring Bag

Sewing Times
by Sewing Times
8 Materials
$15
2 Hours
Advanced


This fish drawstring bag is the cutest answer for anyone looking to make something creative. It’s useful, practical, and adorable! Find out how you can make your own!

Tools and materials:

  • Four fabrics
  • Cotton cord
  • Buttons
  • Fabric marker
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine
  • Ruler
  • Iron
DIY drawstring bag

Cut out your fabric 

Start by cutting out your fabric. You will need 4 different shades/colors/patterns. Cut out two rectangles of 4 ⅞ inches by 6 ¾, two squares of 6 ¾ by 6 ¾, and two rectangles of 10 ⅞ by 6 ¾. Next, with your fourth fabric, cut out two rectangles that are 4 ⅝ by 1 ¾, two more that are 3 ¾ by 2 ¼, and four more that are 5.5 by 5. Finally, cut out five millimeters of cotton cord and two fifteen-millimeter buttons.  

Fish drawstring bag

Make the fins 

Take your small pieces of fabric and flip them over. On the wrong sides, draw the fins of the fish (as drawn above) and stack them with their pairs, right sides together. Clip the fabric and cut out the fins. Leaving a quarter-inch seam allowance, sew the fins together and then cut out small notches to help the fabric lay flat. Once that’s done, flip the fabric right side out and iron to finish.  

Sew a drawstring bag

Build the body 

Grab your two square pieces of fabric and pin a fin to each one - in the middle. Next, take your two smaller rectangles and place them over the fin and fabric, right sides together. Sew the three pieces together along the edge (about ⅜ of an inch from the end). Open the fabric up so all the pieces are right sides up and then sew it down again. 

How to sew a drawstring bag

Cut out the fish 

Fold the body in half and use a ruler to mark off ⅝ of an inch from the folded bottom. Then, freehand the shape of your fish, starting from that point, and cut it out. Only do this on one side. Next, take your last two rectangles of fabric and place your uncut piece of the body over them. Using the piece that you did cut as a template, cut out the three remaining pieces of fabric. 

Sewing a drawstring bag

Attach the details 

Attach the remaining fins to the sides and back and then sew them down. Cut off any excess fabric. Next, place the buttons by the seam (on the smaller piece of fabric where the fins aren’t) and hand sew them in place. Align each fish piece with the fabric you cut out from earlier and line them up right sides together. Pin into place and then sew down about ⅜ of an inch from the straight edge. 

drawstring bag tutorial

Connect both halves 

Open the fish so that the wrong sides are facing up and separate the seam so that it lays flat. Iron it down. Next, place the two halves together, right sides together and pin in place, Make sure to move the fins out of place and keep them from getting sewed down. Mark off notches along the rim (as pictured above) and sew the two pieces together, leaving a half-inch seam allowance. 

Sew a fish drawstring bag

Finish the fish 

Using the large notch you left in the rim, flip the fish right side out. Pin the openings closed and hand sew the opening closed. Next, pull the mouth of the fish open and push the lining inside. Pin around the opening and sew it down (once by the edge and once two centimeters below that). 

How to sew a fish drawstring bag

Add the straps 

Fold the cotton cord in half and cut it into two separate pieces. Now, weave each strap through one side and tie the two edges on each side into a small knot. Cut off any excess fabric and you’re done! 

Sewing a fish drawstring bag

This DIY drawstring bag can make all your underwater dreams come true. I love how cute this looks and how creative it is. If you’re looking for something to spice up your closet this is definitely the answer! 

Suggested materials:
  • Fabric
  • Cotton cord
  • Buttons
See all materials

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